STEPHEN Clemence could come in from the cold for Blues tonight as Steve Bruce seeks to stiffen his team's resolve.

Clemence has been nagged by an Achilles tendon complaint for more than three weeks but has successfully returned to training.

With Mehdi Nafti out of sorts, as often happens once a player has several games after returning from a long-term injury, and Fabrice Muamba a teenager, Clemence could come into consideration.

Damien Johnson sits out the final game of his three-match ban and Bruce is unlikely to start David Dunn in the centre of the park.

So Clemence's inclusion in the squad again could be viewed a s highly significant.

He started the opening day of the season but then faded out of the reckoning and picked up the Achilles problem.

He was unhappy to be left out initially and would be motivated to do well and prove a point.

Although hardly explosive going forward, he is a useful foil to other more adventurous players and would help protect Blues' defence.

Dunn has recovered from a calf strain that has sidelined him from Blues' last two outings.

And striker Nicklas Bendtner has been given the green light to play again after a knee injury.

As for starting them, Bruce said: "Certainly in Nicklas' case, I would have thought yes. Dunny has trained all weekend. We had him in Sunday as well as Saturday. So we'll have a decision to make on him."

Bendtner's return will be welcome as Mikael Forssell is rated doubtful due to a knee injury. He aggravated the joint after coming on as a substitute against Luton Town on Saturday.